Chapter 5 Chapter 5

Chapter 5

- Aria -

The mating ceremony is held in Jason's private study, with only his Beta Alexei as witness. No celebration, no pack gathering, just a business transaction sealed in blood and magic.

"The wrist," Jason says, rolling up his sleeve. "Less intimate than the neck."

I nod, grateful he's not pretending this is more than it is. When his teeth pierce my wrist, the sensation is different from Marcus's mark, like ice and fire dancing through my veins. My mark on his wrist shimmers silver in the candlelight.

The moment it's complete, the door opens. A woman walks in, and my breath catches. She's stunning, tall, athletic, with long black hair and violet eyes that seem to glow. She moves like a warrior, each step calculated and graceful.

"Jason," she purrs, then freezes when she sees me. "Who is this?"

"Natasha, meet my new Luna."

The temperature in the room seems to drop. Natasha's perfect features remain composed, but something dangerous flickers in those unusual eyes.

"Your Luna?" Her laugh is like tinkling glass. "How... unexpected."

"Natasha is our Head Warrior," Jason explains to me. "And a valued friend."

Friend. The way she looks at him suggests she wants to be much more.

"Charmed," Natasha says, extending her hand. Her grip is firm enough to hurt, but I don't flinch. "And you are?"

"Aria," I reply.

"Just Aria?" She circles me slowly, assessing. "No pack name? No family line?"

"My past is complicated."

"Isn't everyone's?" She stops in front of Jason, placing a familiar hand on his chest. "Jason, darling, might I speak with you privately?"

"Whatever you need to say can be said here."

Her smile doesn't waver, but I catch the flash of irritation. "Of course. I just wanted to report that the border patrols spotted some unusual activity. Silver Moon wolves, testing our boundaries."

My blood freezes. Silver Moon. Marcus.

"They wouldn't dare," Alexei growls.

"Oh, but they would." Natasha's eyes find mine. "Apparently, their Luna recently died under... mysterious circumstances. The Alpha is quite distraught."

"Is he?" Jason's tone is neutral.

"Mmm. Though not too distraught to mate his mistress immediately after." She pulls out her phone, showing a photo. "The ceremony was yesterday. Quite the celebration."

I see Marcus and Sophie, her in my wedding dress, both smiling for the cameras. My stomach churns.

"Are you alright?" Natasha asks me sweetly. "You look pale."

"I'm fine."

"You know," she continues, studying me closely, "you look familiar. Have we met before?"

"I doubt it."

"No, I'm certain I've seen your face..." Her eyes widen in mock surprise. "Oh my. You're her, aren't you? The dead Luna of Silver Moon."

Jason steps between us. "That's enough questions for tonight."

"But Jason, harboring a criminal—"

"She's not a criminal. She was framed."

Natasha's perfect mask slips for just a moment, revealing something ugly underneath. "And you believe her?"

"I do."

"How touching." She moves closer to him, her voice dropping. "Remember what happened the last time you trusted too easily? Elena died because—"

"Enough." His Alpha command reverberates through the room.

Natasha bows her head in submission, but not before shooting me a look of pure venom.

"I'll show the Luna to her quarters," Alexei offers quickly.

"No," Jason says. "She stays with me. For protection."

"Of course," Natasha says, her smile back in place. "Protection. Well then, I'll leave you to your... arrangement." She heads for the door, pausing to look back. "Welcome to Blood Moon Pack, Luna. Do try not to bring death here like you did to your last pack."

The door closes with a soft click that sounds like a threat.

"She seems lovely," I say dryly.

"She's complicated," Jason responds. "But loyal."

"To you."

"To the pack."

I don't point out that those might not be the same thing.

Jason's quarters are massive, a penthouse suite that takes up the entire top floor of the pack house. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the forest, and everything is decorated in blacks and grays with touches of deep red.

"The bedroom is through there," he indicates. "You can have it. I'll take the couch."

"This is your room."

"And you're pregnant and recovering. You need proper rest."

As if on cue, my stomach cramps. I gasp, doubling over.

"What's wrong?" Jason is beside me instantly.

"I don't know. This has been happening since—" Another cramp, stronger this time.

He places his hand on my stomach, and warmth flows from his palm. The pain eases immediately.

"Your wolf is fighting the broken mate bond," he explains. "It's putting stress on the pregnancy."

"But you marked me. Shouldn't that help?"

"It will, eventually. But your bond with Marcus was strong. It'll take time for my mark to fully override it."

"And if it doesn't?"

He meets my eyes. "It will."

The night is cold, the moon hidden behind clouds. I place my hand on my stomach, where my secret grows. My baby doesn't know their father is a monster, that their mother is hunted, that they might not survive to be born.

"Dramatic exit," Natasha says, joining me. "Very Luna-like."

"What do you want?"

"To give you some friendly advice." She leans against the railing, her violet eyes reflecting the city lights. "Leave. Tonight. Run far and fast, and never come back."

"Is that a threat?"

"It's a kindness. You don't belong here, and we both know it."

"Jason marked me—"

"As a business arrangement. Yes, I heard." She examines her perfect nails. "But you see, Jason and I have history. Real history. I've been by his side for five years, through his parents' death, through Elena's murder, through every battle and victory. You've been here five minutes."

"And yet he chose me."

Her composure cracks slightly. "He chose revenge. You're just the weapon."

Maybe she's right. But I think of Jason's hand on my stomach, healing my baby, and wonder if there's more to it.

"I'm not leaving," I tell her.

"Then you're a fool." She straightens. "But an entertaining one. I almost hope you survive what's coming."

"Which is?"

She smiles, and it's beautiful and terrifying. "The Council meeting isn't just a formality. It's a trial. Marcus has been building a case against you for weeks. The dead Luna who might be alive, who might have fled to an enemy pack, who might be carrying stolen pack secrets."

"I'm not—"

"It doesn't matter what you are. It matters what he can prove. And with Sophie pregnant with the 'true heir,' the Council will be sympathetic to his cause."

"You seem to know a lot about Marcus's plans."

"I make it my business to know everything that might affect my pack." She heads for the door, pausing to look back. "Oh, and Aria? That baby you're carrying? You might want to hide it better. Your scent is changing, and not everyone here is as oblivious as they seem."

She leaves me alone with that threat hanging in the air.